ARLINGTON and ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Amazon.com, Inc, announced this morning that it has chosen Arlington County to establish a major new headquarters. Arlington and the City of Alexandria, after working together for the last year in a unique and unprecedented regional partnership, are announcing that Amazon will locate in National Landing, a newly branded neighborhood encompassing parts of Pentagon City and Crystal City in Arlington and Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The Commonwealth’s announcement also includes news of a new partnership with Virginia Tech to develop a revolutionary Innovation Campus to fill demand for high-tech talent in National Landing and beyond.

“We are proud that Amazon has selected National Landing for a major new headquarters. This is, above all, a validation of our community’s commitment to sustainability, transit-oriented development, affordable housing and diversity,” Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol said. “The strength of our workforce coupled with our proximity to the nation’s capital makes us an attractive business location. But Arlington’s real strength is the decades of planning that have produced one of the most vibrant, civically engaged communities in the world. Those plans have paved the way for this investment and we look forward to engaging the Arlington community about Amazon’s plans and how we can grow together.”

“We in Alexandria could not be more excited and proud for Amazon to call National Landing home,” said Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg. “Throughout this process, we have worked with our colleagues in Arlington to highlight the collective strengths of our communities – our workforce, education, infrastructure and our unparalleled quality of life – all of which will be strengthened by this new investment from Amazon, the Commonwealth and our localities. Alexandria is an exceptional place to live and work, and we welcome partners who are committed to our continued growth and prosperity. We are thrilled to be able to partner with Virginia Tech as they deliver a world-class innovation campus in Alexandria’s portion of National Landing.”

Amazon will invest approximately $2.5 billion to establish a new headquarters in National Landing, which will create more than 25,000 high paying jobs and occupy 4 million square feet of energy-efficient office space with the opportunity to expand to 8 million square feet over the next 12 years. The National Landing site, one of the National Capital Region’s most accessible mixed-use communities, sits in the heart of an area recognized for having the most highly-educated workforce in the nation and is home to a growing number of companies and agencies contributing to the metro area’s reputation as a technology hub of the East Coast. National Landing, as the name suggests, is situated adjacent to Reagan National Airport and across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

“We are looking forward to joining the community and are excited to be creating high-paying jobs in Arlington,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon Director of WW Economic Development. “We believe that northern Virginia is a great place for our teams to keep inventing on behalf of our customers.”

Regional Collaborative Effort

Today’s announcement successfully concludes a 14-month process that inspired Northern Virginia localities to engage for the first time in a unique multi-jurisdictional partnership. This new regional approach to economic development allowed Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County and Loudoun County to present multiple sites to a company under the Northern Virginia brand, highlighting many shared regional assets like workforce, business climate and the innovation economy. This process was led by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) and its commitment to deliver a world-class proposal to Amazon.

“I’m grateful to Governor Northam and his cabinet, the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Commission and their staff, Virginia’s university leaders, our amazing local partners, our talented colleagues at VEDP, and many other Virginians for all they have done to make this possible,” said VEDP President and CEO Stephen Moret. “Virginia’s biggest employment growth opportunity in the years ahead will be in tech – from artificial intelligence to cloud computing to cybersecurity, and everything in between. The tech-talent pipeline investments that Governor Northam and the General Assembly are launching will position communities across the Commonwealth for healthier, more diversified economic growth.”

Specifically, for the National Landing proposal, Arlington and Alexandria partnered with property owner and developer JBG SMITH to present Amazon with a compelling 150-acre site – a mixture of existing vacant buildings and developable land – seamlessly connected by a robust transportation network, including three Metrorail stations and a commuter rail station, walking and biking paths. The National Landing proposal offers Amazon the opportunity to establish a major headquarters in a thriving, urban environment. The proposal to Amazon that was crafted by Arlington, Alexandria, JBG SMITH, VEDP, and others can be found online.

“We are incredibly pleased to partner with Amazon on their new headquarters,” said JBG SMITH CEO, Matt Kelly. “Their selection of National Landing is a fantastic outcome for the entire region and reflects the close collaboration between the JBG SMITH team and our partners in Arlington, Alexandria and the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Amazon’s new home at National Landing builds on the strength and history of an established community with nearly 12 million square feet of existing office space and more than 13,000 residential units that also has exciting growth potential. JBG SMITH owns 6.2 million square feet of existing office space and 2.4 million square feet of existing multifamily, and controls 7.4 million square feet of estimated potential density in National Landing, excluding Amazon’s proposed land purchase. Amazon’s initial development plans focus on JBG SMITH-owned properties in Crystal City and Pentagon City in Arlington County, while the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus will be developed in the Alexandria portion of the National Landing site. Amazon’s new headquarters and related investments are generally consistent with the communities’ adopted growth plans for the National Landing area in both Arlington and Alexandria, which envision high-density, mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

In Alexandria’s portion of Potomac Yard, Virginia Tech and the Commonwealth intend to provide funding for an Innovation Campus near Amazon’s new headquarters to build a graduate campus in the southern portion of National Landing, specifically targeted at tech talent that will benefit all companies in the Commonwealth. The campus will house master’s and doctoral level programs that dovetail with the industry’s most pressing demands. Degree programs and research opportunities will focus on computer sciences and software engineering, while offering specializations in high-demand areas, including data sciences; analytics and collective decisions; security and the Internet of Things; and technology and policy. The campus will build on the growing innovation economy in Alexandria and Arlington, anchored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and now private sector companies like Amazon.

“Launching the Innovation Campus is a watershed moment for Virginia Tech and a great day for the Commonwealth we are committed to serve,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said. “As Virginia’s land-grant institution, we stepped up to claim our role of driving economic development by leveraging our strengths in technology and engineering and building on our strong partnerships in Washington, D.C. The Innovation Campus will bring together the highest-caliber students, world-class faculty, smart ideas and forward-thinking companies.”

Investments in the Community

K-12 and Higher Education: As part of the Commonwealth’s increased investment in the tech-talent pipeline, Arlington and Alexandria public schools will have access to new resources related to computer science education, to be made available statewide. They include: ongoing professional development for current and future teachers; high-quality curriculum and related resources; summer and after-school programming for students; and meaningful career exposure and work-based learning opportunities in high-demand fields.

George Mason University’s Arlington campus will also grow, taking advantage of new performance-based investments for new master’s degree programs in computer science and related fields.

Transportation: A review of available transportation services, facilities and associated capacity indicate that regional and local transit systems have significant unused capacity, even during peak travel periods. As a very transit-focused employer, Amazon is expected to help fill that existing capacity, with most employees utilizing public transit, walking, biking or carpooling each day.

To manage this planned growth, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria are investing $570 million in transportation projects, including rail connections, transit facilities, multi-modal streets and transportation technology serving the site, all of which were planned as part of Board- and Council-approved long-term Capital Improvement Plans. Arlington and Alexandria are also actively pursuing additional funding opportunities to advance investments in this corridor.

To augment these local investments, the Commonwealth will invest up to $195 million of non-general fund money in new or expanded transportation projects to improve mobility in the region, including an additional entrance to the Crystal City Metro station and a south entrance off of Potomac Avenue to the new Potomac Yard Metro station. Other projects include improvements to U.S. Route 1 in Arlington County, a pedestrian bridge from Crystal City to Reagan National Airport and a transitway expansion supporting Pentagon City, Crystal City and Potomac Yard in both Alexandria and Arlington. Additional funding would be available if Amazon creates more than 25,000 jobs.

Housing: Amazon’s choice to locate in National Landing comes as the region is intensifying its efforts to increase housing capacity and making more investments in affordable housing. Arlington and Alexandria already have strong existing commitments to funding and supporting efforts to create, protect and preserve affordable and workforce housing. As part of this project announcement, both communities will fund affordable housing, workforce housing and public infrastructure, bolstered by revenues generated from Amazon’s new presence in their communities. Combined, the communities project investment of at least $150 million over the next decade, resulting in the creation and preservation of 2,000 to 2,400 affordable and workforce units in and around the Crystal City, Pentagon City and Columbia Pike areas and throughout Alexandria.

Direct Investments

Arlington’s proposed direct financial incentive to Amazon is an annual pay-for-performance grant tied to the company meeting 6 million square feet in office occupancy targets over the initial 15 years with a value of approximately $23 million. The incentive comes from a percentage of the new incremental revenue generated by the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), which is a tax paid by tourists and business travelers on hotel rooms or other paid lodging.

In addition to direct financial incentives, Arlington County also proposed using a portion of new incremental revenue generated by Amazon’s arrival within the existing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) area to make strategic infrastructure investments in and around National Landing. The estimated new TIF revenue is projected to be $28m over a 10-year period.

The Arlington County Board will vote on a final incentive agreement no earlier than February 2019 and will follow its regular public engagement and hearing process for development decisions.

In order to facilitate the development of Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in National Landing, Alexandria has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the university in which the City agreed to work with Virginia Tech to structure a financial plan for development, potentially including local financial support, as well as providing expedited processing for planning and development approvals and permits. The Innovation Campus will be located in the Alexandria portion of National Landing on land owned by investment firm Blackstone Group L.P. real estate fund. The land is commonly referred to as Oakville Triangle and will be developed by Stonebridge Associates. The City will follow its well-established public engagement and hearing processes for any required planning and development decisions, and any other City commitments will be decided on by City Council, following established protocols for consideration and approval.

Arlington Economic Development

Arlington Economic Development (AED), part of Arlington County Government, is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of an economically competitive and sustainable community, and the creation of exciting, diverse and amenity-rich places. AED provides visionary leadership and superior services to Arlington’s business and arts community, its tourism industry and its real estate development. For more information, visit ArlingtonEconomicDevelopment.com.

Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) is a public-private partnership that works closely with the City of Alexandria management and elected officials to promote Alexandria as a premier location for businesses by capitalizing on its many assets, including multiple Metro stations, historical character and riverfront location to enhance the city’s tax revenue and increase employment opportunities. For more information, visit GrowALX.com.

###

Arlington and Alexandria are world-class destinations and business-friendly communities known for a highly-educated workforce, fiscally responsible governments and diverse cultures. Located just across the Potomac River from the decision-making center of Washington, D.C., Arlington and Alexandria work jointly to provide the ideal environments for business, residents and visitors.

The Arlington County Board today approved a two-phase plan to redevelop a portion of Crystal Square, in the heart of Crystal City. The project will add 100,000 square feet of street-oriented retail businesses, including a new Alamo Drafthouse movie theater and a grocery store, to Crystal Drive, and upgrade an existing office building to “Class A” office space.

The JBGSmith project also will include a new two-story, stand-alone retail building, dubbed the “Corner Building,” at the northwest corner of Crystal Drive and 18th Street S. that will be built above a future eastern entrance to the Crystal City Metro Station, and will complement a planned public park.

“This project will enliven Crystal Drive with street-level retail. Where today, most of the retail is inward facing, these changes will bring more visual interest and energy to this increasingly dynamic neighborhood,” County Board Chair Katie Cristol said. “Today’s action also commits the developer to granting an easement for a public park. It is another step toward realizing the Crystal City Sector Plan’s vision of a Crystal City that is more vibrant, has a greater sense of place, and provides residents and the people who work there with more civic, cultural, community and recreational amenities.”

The Board voted unanimously to approve a rezoning and three site plan amendments for a portion of Crystal Square, a 15-acre mixed-use development that lies between 15th Street South, 18th Street South, Crystal Drive and US Route 1. Crystal Square’s 1.3 million square feet of office space and 155,000 square feet of retail space, most of it in the Crystal City Underground, and 387 apartment units, was completed in the late 1970s. The area is designated the “Central Business District” in the Crystal City Sector Plan.

Planned Crystal City theater.

To read the staff reports, scroll to Items No. 25 and 26 on the agenda for the Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

Public park commitment

As part of the approval, owner and developer JBGSmith will dedicate a public park easement of no less than 43,900 square feet to the County along 18th Street South between Crystal Drive and South Bell Street. It is the largest open space easement in Crystal City since adoption of the 2010 Crystal City Sector Plan.

The first phase of development will add 84,000 square feet of retail space, including the planned grocery store and movie theater. The developer plans to begin building Phase I by the end of 2018. The three-story movie theater will be built above Crystal Drive ground floor retail. Visitors will be able to access the movie theater and the ground floor retail from the Metro entrance. The 15,000-foot grocery store will be built in the existing office building at 1550 Crystal Drive. The movie theater and the grocery store will be connected by a new one-story retail area along Crystal Drive that will replace an existing 1990s-era strip of one-story retail.

In the second phase of redevelopment, “Metro Market Square,” the existing, vacant office building at 1750/1770 Crystal Drive will be renovated and expanded, and the developer will make streetscape improvements recommended for the block by the Crystal City Sector Plan. It is in this phase that the developer will dedicate the easement for the future public park to the County. The County will be responsible for planning, building and maintaining the park. The renovations will include architectural and façade improvements, and will add 10,000 square feet to the building.

Planned Phase II office.

The Crystal City Metro Station elevators will be integrated into the planned two-story retail Corner Building. The Board approved a building envelope, specifying height and massing. The developer will submit the design for Site Plan Review Committee review and staff approval before obtaining a building permit.

Crystal City Sector Plan

The Crystal City Sector plan designates Crystal Square as part of Crystal City’s Central Business District. The sector plan was meant to respond to the Federal Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) and post 9/11 security concerns, which led to an increase in Crystal City office vacancies as government agencies moved to more secure locations. The plan is meant to incent mixed-use redevelopment and add density, while enhancing the public realm and adding open space.

The plan envisioned whole-block redevelopments, but market conditions resulted in incremental redevelopment of individual sites instead. During their consideration of the Site Plan amendments, Board members expressed hope that the project will serve as a catalyst for more redevelopment in Crystal City.

Public engagement

The proposed redevelopment underwent a one-year public review process that included four Site Plan Review Committee meetings, four Long Range Planning committee meetings and public hearings before the Transportation and Planning commissions. County staff also conducted an online survey on the nature of the proposed open space and the proposed two-story retail building adjacent to it. The proposed open space also will be subjected to a detailed park planning process in the future, to be led by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

]]>County Board Approves Columbia Pike Banners, Longer Lease for Crystal City Pop-up Libraryhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/county-board-approves-columbia-pike-banners-longer-lease-for-crystal-city-pop-up-library/
Sat, 16 Jun 2018 13:12:50 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=17178The Arlington County Board today approved banners for Columbia Pike designed to enhance the sense of place along the corridor, and approved an 18-month lease extension that will allow The Connection, the County’s pop-up library in Crystal City, to stay open through December 2019.

Pike Banners

The Board voted unanimously to authorize the installation of non-commercial banners in the public right-of-way along the entire length of Columbia Pike, from Foxcroft Heights to the western County line. The Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) will place the seasonal banners on street light poles on behalf of the County.

CPRO will fund the phased installation and maintenance of these banners. In the first phase, 48 banners will be installed at key major intersections along the Pike. Subsequent phases will be completed as funding becomes available. Total cost to install the initial 48 banners is $11,280. It will cost $2,000 to maintain the banners the first year (increasing 5 percent annually).

Proposed Columbia Pike banners.

“The County and our partner, CPRO, continue to make steady progress toward realizing the community’s vision of a Columbia Pike that feels more like a Main Street,” Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol said. “These colorful banners will enhance the vibrancy we already see along the Pike, where years of community planning and public and private engagement have created a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape and more welcoming public spaces.”

To read the staff report for this item, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 20 on the agenda for the Saturday, June 16, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

Background

In 2017, the Board doubled annual funding for CPRO, bringing its total commitment to $400,000. The Board, at the time, said it wanted to see CPRO use some of those funds to develop new place-making activities – specifically a cleaning program and a banner program. The Washington Forrest Foundation has also contributed $10,000 to CPRO for the program for this purpose. This is the second time the Board has permitted CPRO to install decorative banners within the public right-of-way.

About CPRO

CPRO’s mission is to create a safer, cleaner, more vibrant community from the Pentagon to the County line, a corridor which geographically makes up 17 percent of Arlington, and to champion and connect businesses and community along Columbia Pike. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 20 on the Agenda for the Saturday, June 16, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

To learn more about the County’s efforts to transform Columbia Pike into a more transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly Main Street with great public spaces and a mix of vibrant retail, restaurants, housing and offices, visit the County website.

Crystal City pop-up library to stay open through December 2019

The Connection, the County’s popular Crystal City pop-up branch library, will stay open through December 2019 with the County Board’s unanimous approval of amendments to the current lease with JBG Smith.

“We appreciate JBG Smith’s generosity, which will allow the pop-up to continue without taxpayer support,” Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol said. “In addition to getting the space rent-free, the County will no longer have to pay a fee to cover real estate taxes, operating expenses and electrical power costs, and Crystal City patrons of the library will continue to have easy access to library services.”

The Connection pop-up library in Crystal City.

The County has leased space for the library at 2117 Crystal Plaza Arcade, since 2017 from CESC Plaza Limited Partnership – JBG Smith. The pop-up has been a low-cost way to push library services into a neighborhood that has no branch library, and to introduce people of all ages to the wide scope of what the County’s public library system has to offer. The pop-up also has helped enliven the Crystal City Shops.

Under the new lease, the County will no longer have to pay real estate taxes, operating expenses and electrical power costs during the extended term, which begins July 1, 2018. JBG Smith will continue to lease the space to the County rent-free.

The Board first approved the license for the temporary library in July 2016. The library opened in September 2016 and quickly became a popular feature of the Crystal City Shops. The board unanimously voted today to approve the lease extension. To read the staff report for this item, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 36 on the agenda for the Saturday, June 16, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

All County Board meetings are live-streamed on the County website, and broadcast live on the County’s cable channel, ATV, with live captioning. You can watch the Board Meetings on Comcast 25 & 74 and Verizon FiOS 39 & 40, or live-streamed on YouTube. Videos of Board meetings are archived on the County website (with captions and reports) and on YouTube.

Here are some of the agenda highlights:

Saturday, Jan. 27 – County Board Regular Meeting

View the agendaand read the staff reports for this meeting. (Note: The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. with public comment. Some reports will be posted closer to the meeting date.)

Transportation projects funding – The Board will consider accepting a total of nearly $18 million from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), for transit, bridge renovation work and transportation capital projects.

NVTC — more than $850,000 in funding from I-66 toll revenue funds for multimodal projects along the I-66 corridor that offer transportation options to commuters. The money will fund bus stop consolidation and improved accessibility; multimodal real-time transportation information screens and ART bus rehabilitation for ART 55 peak service expansion.

DRPT — $10 million in funding from Smart Scale, a state-wide funding program, for the planned Ballston West Entrance; $4 million for the purchase of eight 40-foot buses; $500,000 for the purchase of a mobile commuter store and $500,000 to improve the accessibility of bus stops along the Arlington Rapid Transit bus route to Marymount University.

VDOT — About $2 million in funding for the Shirlington Road Bridge and Pershing Drive projects.

To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 27 on the agenda.

Park Master Plan, Design Guidelines, Name – The Board will consider approving the Master Plan and Design Guidelines for a park created through the Potomac Yard Phased Development Site Plan approved by the Board in October 2000. County staff engaged the public both to develop the Master Plan and Design Guidelines and to decide on a name for the park, which has been informally known as South Park.

The 3.5-acre park lies between Route 1 and Potomac Avenue. Almost half of it is included in the Four Mile Run and Resource Protection Area. The Master Plan would provide a long-term vision to be implemented in two phases, with the first phase including a multi-use trail connection, now being designed, from Route 1 to the Four Mile Run Trail. Construction of the trail is expected to begin in late 2018. To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 38 on the agenda for the Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

Market Common Phase II redevelopment: Rezoning, Site Plan amendment – The Board will consider a plan to redevelop an existing office building on Wilson Boulevard in the heart of Clarendon. Under the proposal, the IOTA and A & R Engravers buildings would be incorporated into the existing site plan for the Clarendon Education Center building. The building would be expanded by adding a fourth floor, with outdoor terraces, across the IOTA and Engravers Building properties. Developer Clarendon Regency IV, LLC plans to preserve the historic Engravers Building at 2836 Wilson Boulevard. The redevelopment also would reconfigure the corner plaza’s retail space at the intersection of Clarendon Boulevard and N. Edgewood Street, and create a recessed arcade space along N. Edgewood Street. Wilson Boulevard’s streetscape would be reconfigured, with tree pits relocated into parking lane bump-outs, to create a wider sidewalk. To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 37 on the agenda for the Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

Specimen Trees – The County Board will consider designating four trees Specimen Trees, based on their size and quality. The trees, a Willow Oak, a Blackgum, an American Beech and a Southern Red Oak, were nominated by private property owners. Once designated, Specimen Trees must be preserved, and protected if the site where they stand is developed, with some exceptions. If you are interested in nominating a tree on your property for Specimen Tree status, visit the County website. To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 23 on the agenda for the Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

Donation for Citizenship fees — The Board will consider accepting a $7,000 anonymous donation from a resident for scholarships that will pay part of the recipients’ filing fee costs for the Application for Naturalization. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services charges $725 to process an Application for Naturalization. Although the fee is waived for applicants who earn less than 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and reduces it for those whose income is between 151 percent and 200 percent, some applicants still have difficulty paying for their application. To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 29 on the agenda for the Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

No sooner than 6:30 p.m. – The Board will hold public hearings and consider any items pulled from Saturday’s Consent Agenda.

No sooner than 6:45 p.m. – The Board will consider Regular Hearing items.

At this time, no Regular Hearing Items are scheduled for the Tuesday, Jan. 30 Board Meeting.

]]>Highlights from the Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 Arlington County Board Recessed Meetinghttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/highlights-from-the-tuesday-nov-28-2017-arlington-county-board-recessed-meeting/
Wed, 29 Nov 2017 18:42:53 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=14255The Arlington County Board took several important actions at its Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 Recessed County Board Meeting. To view the archived, captioned video of the meeting, or read the staff reports and staff presentations, visit the County website. Some of the highlights included:

You can watch County Board Meetings live , with captions on the County website, or live-streamed in HD on Arlington TV’s Youtube channel or broadcast on Arlington TV on Comcast 25 & 74 and Verizon FiOS 39 & 40 when meetings are in session. The County Board meets monthly, every month except August. The meetings are held on the Third Floor of the County Office Building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201. The Board’s monthly meetings are open to the public.

The Arlington County Board today approved a $60 million contract with Coakley & Williams Construction, Inc. to complete Phase 2 of Long Bridge Park, including the design and building of the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center, Arlington’s first free-standing aquatics center.

The project also will include development of 10.5 acres of the park, including environmental remediation, continuation of the Esplanade, public gathering areas and casual use space, one or more rain gardens, parking and other associated infrastructure. This new phase of the park is expected to open to the public in late 2020/early 2021.

“This is the culmination of 10-plus years of planning,” Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette said. “As our transformation of a brownfield into a vibrant park is fulfilled, we should all be very proud that a long and sometimes challenging community process has yielded such a great outcome. The centerpiece of this project will be an attractive, energy-efficient aquatics and fitness facility that will serve our community for generations.”

The Board voted 4 to 1 to approve the contract. Board Member John Vihstadt voted no.

Pool big enough for multiple simultaneous uses

The aquatics center will visually connect to the Esplanade that is one of the best-loved features of Long Bridge Park, which lies on the north end of Crystal City and offers Potomac views. Coakley & Williams winning design for the Aquatics & Fitness Center featured simple, energy efficient, quality architecture. A deck, up to 18 feet on three sides and 24 feet on the fourth, will surround the 50-meter pool. The pool will offer one, three and five-meter diving, and will be large enough that even when swim events are taking place, lanes will be open to the public. The facility also will include a second leisure/family pool, a fitness center and community rooms.

About design-build

This is the first time the County has used the design-build approach to build a new facility. The approach, used across the country, establishes a budget at the outset of the project which the contractor cannot exceed.

Four firms met the criteria set by the County to compete for the contract. The County’s Selection Advisory Committee, made up of six staff and community representatives, vetted the proposals and made recommendations to the County Manager based on written proposals, interviews, concept review, public feedback and negotiations.

Construction of Phase 2 of Long Bridge Park’s development may begin as early as July 2018, after the design and construction documents are completed.

About Long Bridge

50 meter pool rendering

Long Bridge Park is bounded by I-395 on the west, Roaches Run Wildfowl Sanctuary on the east, 6th Street South to the south and the George Washington Memorial Parkway to the north. The County first envisioned transforming the former “North Tract” site, an environmental brownfield, into a multi-use community park in 1993.

The County Board approved the initial concept for the park in 2004. Arlington County voters approved $50 million for the first phase of design and construction as part of the November 2004 Park Bond Referendum. Development of the park is identified as one of five key objectives in the 2005 Public Spaces Master Plan, an element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Arlington voters approved a park bond referendum that included $42.5 million for Phase 2 of the park. That funding, combined with a $15 million developer contribution in the form of Transfer of Development Rights is being used to complete Phase 2.

Public engagement

The public has been engaged with the development of Long Bridge Park for more than a decade. For this latest phase, staff developed design criteria that included community feedback collected over the past five years, direction from the Board and recommendations from the Long Bridge Park Advisory Committee about programming, aesthetics and user needs.

Demolishing bridge to improve Crystal City street network, create more development space

The Arlington County Board today approved two construction contracts: one to improve our north-south trail connections, and the other to remove the elevated South Clark Street roadway in Crystal City between 12th and 20th Streets South.

Washington Boulevard Trail improvements

“This extension of the Washington Boulevard Trail will add to Arlington’s trail network and better connect neighborhoods, public spaces and businesses around the Columbia Pike area with those along Arlington Boulevard and to the north,” Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette said. “By expanding our trail system, we’re supporting healthful living, recreational fun and environmental sustainability by making Arlington an even better place to ride a bike.”

The project will better connect the Columbia Pike area with Arlington Boulevard and the northern part of Arlington by creating a 10-foot wide asphalt trail along the western shoulder of Washington Boulevard, from the current end point near South Walter Reed Drive to Towers Park and South Rolfe and 9th Streets. A 95-foot-long prefabricated pedestrian bridge will be constructed, along with concrete retaining walls, protective railings, guard rails and storm drainage inlets. An earlier phase of this project was constructed along Washington Boulevard in 2009, extending from Arlington Boulevard to South Walter Reed Drive.

The new trail will link to an extra wide sidewalk, able to accommodate both bikers and pedestrians, being developed along Columbia Pike from the Washington Boulevard interchange to S. Joyce Street in Pentagon City. Learn more about the Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements Project, aimed at turning Columbia Pike into a safer, more accessible route for all users.

The new trail also will provide new access into Towers Park. Extending the network through the Penrose neighborhood will address limited north-south connectivity in this part of the County.

Extensive public engagement has taken place with the Penrose Civic Association and with County advisory commissions. The project is jointly funded by the County and the Virginia Department of Transportation and is expected to begin in fall/winter 2017. Construction is anticipated to last about 12 months.

Demolishing a Crystal City bridge to improve street network

The Board also voted unanimously to approve a $6.6 million contract with Neuber Environmental Services, Inc., to remove the elevated South Clark Street roadway in Crystal City between 12th and 20th Streets South. Removing the structure will improve the street network and create more development space in Crystal City, in accordance with the Crystal City Sector Plan.

After the roadway and its overhead bridges, abutments and retaining walls are removed new retaining walls, grass pavers and stormwater facilities, landscaping, traffic signals at 20th Street South and Route 1 will be added. Demolition is anticipated to start in fall 2017, with completion scheduled for late summer 2019.

The demolition also will create more space for pedestrian and bicycle access improvements to the Crystal City Metro Station, which is part of a future project. Funding for the demolition project comes from an Arlington fund dedicated to infrastructure investment in Crystal City.

The Connection: Crystal City—Pop-up Branch Library will be open through June 2018, thanks to an agreement reached between Arlington County and landlord JBG Smith.

“The Connection has proven to be an innovative and popular space for the Crystal City community,” Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz said. “Thanks to JBG for partnering with us to keep the pop-up branch library open through June 2018. When the business community and the government work together, the community benefits.”

The County opened the pop-up library at 2100 Crystal Drive in September 2016, with an initial operating term due to end in December of this year. It offers books, audio visual materials, games and tech access, along with community meeting space, workshops, book groups and other gatherings, including art exhibits. The goal was to meet patrons where they live and work in a low-cost way. Since its debut, the library has enlivened Crystal City Shops at 2100, 2117 Crystal Plaza Arcade and garnered an overwhelmingly positive response from the community.

“The revitalization of Crystal City is a top priority for JBG Smith,” said Andrew VanHorn, Executive Vice President of Development at JBG Smith. “The Connection is a prime example of the place-making efforts we are employing throughout the area, in that we are finding creative ways to provide value and utilize space. It has been especially rewarding to be able to work closely with Arlington county to provide a service that Crystal City residents and neighbors both need and enjoy.”

JBG will continue to provide the 1,222 sq. ft. of space that The Connection occupies rent-free. Beginning in January 2018, JBG also will be responsible for The Connection’s share of common area maintenance expenses, real estate taxes and electricity associated with the space the pop-up library occupies in the 2100 Crystal Drive Center.

302 new apartments at southwest corner of 23rd Street South and Crystal Drive

Advances the vision and goals of the Crystal City Sector Plan

More extensive traffic impact analysis included effects of project on multiple means of transportation

$1.8 million affordable housing contribution

The Arlington County Board today approved a site plan amendment, rezoning and other actions for a mixed-use building with 302 new apartments and ground floor retail at 2351 Jefferson Davis Highway. Also known as “Block Q” in the Crystal City Sector Plan, the new building will be constructed above an existing two-story commercial building that will be renovated.

“This is the sort of mixed-use project that has become an Arlington signature,” said County Board Chair Jay Fisette. “This building will accomplish one of our key goals – to bring more residents to the heart of Crystal City and provide an even better balance of jobs and residents in this neighborhood. This is a very attractive building, putting state-of-the-art new apartments above upgraded retail space that will enhance the neighborhood’s vibrancy.”

The Board voted 5-0 to approve the redevelopment.

To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item No. 49 on the Agenda for the Saturday, July 15, 2017 Regular County Board Meeting.

Advancing the Crystal City Sector Plan vision

An apartment tower is planned for the heart of Crystal City.

The site is part of a larger Site Plan No. 65, also known as National Center or Century Center. This multi-building, mixed-use site plan was approved in 1968 and has been amended many times since.

The Crystal City Sector Plan, adopted in 2010, lays out the community’s vision to transform Crystal City into a more inviting, lively and walkable community with more ground floor retail, better quality office space and more housing options.

The approved redevelopment aligns with the goals outlined in the sector plan. The new building, 24 stories tall, plus a penthouse, will have a contemporary style with aluminum panels in silver and grey predominant on the north and east sides, with some contrasting color on the south and west. A trellis-like architectural feature will be located at the top of the tower, which meets the sector plan’s vision to locate a building with architectural interest at this site.

The development will retain and enhance the existing street-corner plaza, with a design to activate the busy pedestrian crossroads. Six mature trees will be preserved as part of a street level outdoor plaza upgrade.

The existing two-story podium, currently home to a Buffalo Wild Wings, was built in 1976 with infrastructure and an elevator core to support a future multi-story building above. The developer plans to keep existing retail tenants in the ground floor during construction.

Parking will be in the existing underground garage that is shared with other office and residential buildings.

More extensive traffic impact analysis

The applicant conducted a more extensive traffic impact analysis than usually conducted for such a project. The analysis included the effects of the project on multiple modes of transportation, not just vehicle trips. It assessed the development’s projected impact on the adjacent street, sidewalk, transit, and bicycle network and took into account additional traffic generated by approved, but not yet built, projects within the study area, and their associated transportation network improvements. The analysis evaluated 14 intersections along Crystal Drive, South Clark Street, 23rd Street South and 26th Street South and concluded that future intersection level of service will remain the same regardless of the development, due to sufficient capacity within the existing Metrorail and bus system for the additional trips generated by the site, and a high-quality environment that exists adjacent to the site for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Community process

The project underwent a community-based review process that included review meetings with the community, civic associations, the Long Range Planning Committee, Site Plan Review Committee, Transportation Commission and Planning Commission.

New designated zone for private shuttles and passenger drop-offs/pick-ups

New two-way operations on South Bell Street

Arlington County Board Chair and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) member Jay Fisette, along with NVTA Chairman Martin E. Nohe, county officials and representatives from the NVTA, celebrated the completion of Arlington’s new Crystal City Multimodal Center today at a ceremony outside the Crystal City Metrorail Station.

Located on 18th Street South under the U.S. Route 1 bridge, the center expands bus capacity around the Metro station with the addition of four new bus bays that provide both regional and local bus service. The project also creates a safer and more efficient area for the more than 20,000 people who travel to and from this Metro station each day, with new designated curb space for shuttles and kiss-n-ride, new bus shelters and bicycle racks, improved sidewalks and crosswalks, and new lighting.

“With these infrastructure improvements, Arlington is making it easier and safer for people travelling to and through Crystal City – whether they are arriving by bus, Metro, on foot or by car,” Fisette said. “It’s the latest example of how the County continues to invest in Crystal City and continues to build on the community’s vision of enhanced access and connectivity.”

The multimodal center was made possible thanks to $1.5 million in regional transportation funds from the NVTA. The NVTA is responsible for long-range planning, prioritization and funding of regional transportation projects in Northern Virginia.

NVTA Chairman Martin E. Nohe stated, “The NVTA is pleased to partner with Arlington County to expand transit capacity, access and connectivity in Crystal City. The NVTA has provided regional transportation funding for congestion reducing projects, such as new ART buses that will serve new bus routes, Metrorail traction power upgrades and station improvements, roadway capacity expansions and Intelligent Transportation System enhancements in Arlington County.”

Expanded bus capacity

The multimodal center includes four new bus bays – three bays located on the south side of 18th Street, with the fourth on the north side. Featuring new shelters and seating for bus riders, the bays are currently being used for local bus service and Fairfax Connector, with Loudoun County Transit and PRTC/OmniRide commuter services expected to be added in the near future. Adjacent to the bus bays is a new designated zone for kiss-n-ride, as well as employer, residential and hotel shuttles. Space is also designated for the County’s Mobile Commuter Store, which comes weekly and offers residents and commuters the opportunity to purchase SmarTrip cards, pick up transit schedules, and get help with trip planning.

Enhanced street infrastructure

The project made improvements to the street infrastructure around the Crystal City Metro Station, one of the higher ridership stations in Arlington. Concrete replaced the asphalt pavement under the Route 1 bridge, making the street more durable for the heavier bus traffic that is expected, and helping to brighten the underpass due to its lighter color. The sidewalks were rebuilt, new crosswalks were installed, and new lighting was added to the underpass. These improvements make it safer for pedestrians traveling along 18th Street South. The bike lane on 18th Street was also painted green to make it more visible for cyclists and drivers.

Improved connectivity

Travelers and commuters will also benefit from the conversion of South Bell Street to a two-way street. The County rebuilt the intersection of 18th Street South and Bell Street, adding a new traffic signal and making two-way operations possible. The changes to Bell Street improve connectivity, reconnect the street grid and fulfill recommendations from the Crystal City Sector Plan.

For more information about the new Crystal City Multimodal Center, visit the County website.